Percy John De Paravicini died on October 12, having undergone a surgical operation. Mr. Paravicini's numberless friends were shocked at the news of his death, no mention of his illness having appeared in any of the newspapers. Few men personally more popular have ever been seen in the cricket field. His career was in one respect peculiar. He was in proportion a far greater force in his school days than he ever became in first-class matches. At Eton he was quite a dominating figure, bowling with a success that he never approached for Cambridge or Middlesex. He was in the Eton XI for four years, getting his place in 1878 and being captain in 1880-81. In those four seasons he was on the winning side three times against Winchester, but never against Harrow. His greatest triumph was the match against Winchester in 1881, when he scored 27 and 32 and took 10 wickets - 5 for 25 runs and 5 for 46. Thanks mainly to his efforts Eton beat Winchester-a side composed of abnormally tall and powerful young cricketers - by six wickets.

Going up to Cambridge after the season of 1881 Paravicini was in the University Eleven for four years. He was on the winning side three times at Lord's, Cambridge winning in 1882, 1883, and 1885, but losing by seven wickets to M. C. Kemp's splendid eleven in 1884. In these four matches Paravicini's best score was 37. His quick bowling, so formidable at Eton, had quite left him, and in the four matches he was only put on in three innings, meeting with no success.

Though a failure as a bowler and only a partial success as a batsman, Paravicini was one of the finest outfields ever seen in the University match--very fast, untiring, and a sure catch. In this connection I remember hearing J. A. Turner say in the Pavilion, when Cambridge had won the 1885 match by seven wickets, "Para, we didn't get any runs, but we fielded damned well." For Middlesex Paravicini played some good innings, but in county cricket, as for Cambridge, his value lay chiefly in his splendid fielding.

As a man Paravicini earned far more distinction at Association football than at cricket. One of the best backs of his day, he was for several seasons a mainstay of the Old Etonians, and in the season of 1882-83 he played for England against Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. He was a member of the Old Etonians' team that won the Association Cup in 1882. He was born on July 15, 1862.
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack